How to Boost Morale and Maintain Company Culture During COVID-19

15 Apr How to Boost Morale and Maintain Company Culture During COVID-19

COVID-19 has brought business as we know it to a grinding halt. Retail spending is in free fall—spending is down 50.5% for clothing and accessories, 26.8% for furniture, and the automotive and fuel industries are suffering as well. This is causing a ripple effect and even organizations that remain operational are under a lot of stress. All this uncertainty is putting company culture to the test. People that are unable to work remotely are either out of work and worried about money, or still reporting to work in a pandemic. People working remotely might be juggling childcare, homeschooling, and work. And both groups are likely worried about their own health and the health of their loved ones.

Amidst this reality, how can you boost morale and maintain your company’s culture during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Prioritize Morale Building

Time for employees to discuss their day-to-day lives (families, hobbies, etc.) wouldn’t be critical under normal circumstances, but these are not normal circumstances. Right now, the human element of your business needs to be one of your top priorities.

Some recommended practices to consider include the following:

• Ensuring frequent virtual team meetings to keep everyone informed of updates, expectations, and next steps.
• One-on-one check-ins with direct reports.
• Creating opportunities for staff to connect and feel a sense of community.

One concern with remote work is that people might not get their work done, but this challenge is easily overcome with communication. Check-in with your employees often—ask how they’re doing, what concerns they have, and encourage collaboration.

Craig Walker, CEO of Dialpad, asked his company to begin working remotely on March 5th. Of the challenges that come with working remotely, Walker says “I think that this is all solved by quality communication. People are staying in touch and getting the job done. I think so far people are happy to have this opportunity. And video conferences are going to be the new water cooler, with people taking a few moments to socialize over video chat before digging into the work at hand. This will help people feel more connected.”

Revisit Your Company Mission Statement

If you find yourself in the unenviable position of needing to lay off employees or reduce pay, know that you are not alone. Even if your company can remain fully operational with a remote workforce, it’s an unfortunate fact that people are spending less, and companies nationwide are being forced to reduce expenses in response. Businesses and individuals everywhere are facing unprecedented hardship right now, and that’s leading to a lot of difficult decisions.

When taking action, be sure to communicate in a way that is consistent with your company values. What is most important during this time is how you handle this situation. One company that we won’t name here announced that they would be laying off their entire workforce on Facebook. Can you imagine?

As a company, are there creative measures you can take to help employees remain financially stable? One option might be reduced pay vs. loss of jobs during this uncertain, but temporary time. If unable to keep staff employed, make efforts to connect employees with contacts in other industries or recruiting agencies. Some companies are trying to help furloughed employees secure temporary employment in fulfillment centers or grocery stores that find themselves badly understaffed during this crisis.

Do your due diligence during this time and treat your employees with respect. When you open your doors again, you might want them back.

Final Thoughts

It’s true: we’re all in this together. Businesses cannot be successful without hardworking employees, and vice versa. Only by thinking of ourselves as a community, as a unit, and taking action accordingly, will we come out on the other side of this stronger than before. Above all, make sure that, when this crisis has passed, your company can be proud of how it responded.

If your business is experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 Business Resources page or reach out to us. We are here to help.

BASYS Processing as a business partner

Does your current processor understand the unique struggles of your industry? Do they provide great rates and excellent customer service? Are they offering solutions to grow your business and being pro-active about helping you reduce risk and increase your savings? Contact BASYS today to learn more about innovative payment solutions that will save you time and money. We make accepting debit cards and credit cards convenient, safe & affordable.

About BASYS Processing

BASYS Processing provides credit card and debit card processing services, and solutions that include terminals, virtual terminals, e-commerce, mobile, and point-of-sale, customized to fit any need. Banks, associations, and software partners depend on us to strengthen their reputations and relationships with their customers by providing remarkable service paired with ultimate flexibility and pricing. Merchants depend on us to make accepting credit cards and debit cards convenient, safe & affordable. BASYS was founded in 2002 on one philosophy: to take care of our merchants, partners, and employees so they never want to leave. We are dedicated to working one-on-one with our customers to design the perfect solution. BASYS is Personalized Payment Processing.